Michael Peter Sarras

Rosalind Franklin University, USA

Michael Peter Sarras is currently a Professor of cell biology and anatomy, Vice President for Research, and Dean of the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (since 2003). Dr. Sarras has many years of experience as an Educator and as an established NIH-funded Researcher. He received a Ph.D. degree in anatomy and cell biology from Louisiana State University Medical Center, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in cell biology at Yale University School of Medicine. Prior to his arrival at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Dr. Sarras served as a Professor and Acting Chair at the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the University of Kansas Medical Center, and was also the Director of Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies in Biomedical Sciences for the KUMC Graduate School. Dr. Sarras has dedicated himself to research in the fields of cellular and developmental biology, and has contributed with more than 70 articles to these fields of research. His main area of interest involves questions related to the development and regeneration of connective tissue and epithelial systems with an emphasis on the role of cell/extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions during these processes. Over the past 20 years, he used hydra- and zebrafish as developmental models to approach these problems. Currently, his main area of research focuses on the role of cell/ECM interactions (via ECM components/receptors and MMPs) during zebrafish fin regeneration and renal basement biogenesis and maintenance in both the normal and diseased states of zebrafish.